Irrigation and Agriculture

The project goal was to strengthen integrated water resources management within the western basins (consisting of the Hari Rud and the Murghab Rivers) and improve the irrigation performance of traditional community-based (mirab) systems. And developed additional sources of irrigation supply, enhance agricultural practices to strengthen the national economy through significantly improved agricultural production, and improve the livelihoods of the residents of the basins. The project outputs included (i) improved integrated water resources management in the western basins; (ii) rehabilitation, upgrading and development of irrigation infrastructure and a strengthened community-based “mirab” (Master of water distribution) approach to irrigation system management; (iii) enhanced support for improved agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods; (iv) development of women-owned agricultural processing business for local markets; and (v) strengthened staff capacity and enhanced institutional frameworks for both integrated water resources management and irrigated agriculture.

Sheladia provided technical services to establish ground and surface water database, feasibility study, detailed design, preparation of bidding documents and construction supervision of 4 main and related secondary and tertiary canals. We have prepared an environmental assessment, resettlement plan, and gender plan and provided monitoring and evaluation services to the project. Furthermore, we trained the PIU and Water Management Department Staff of the Ministry of Energy and Water through on-job training. We also trained farmers, particularly women farmers and small business owners.

Sheladia is designing and supervising the implementation of 2000 solar pumping systems for irrigation including installation, commissioning, and an awareness campaign. Sheladia developed a detailed and sustainable business model for the effective promotion of this technology. The project’s main purpose is to reduce CO₂ emissions by replacing the diesel pumps.  The project is funded by the Government of Bangladesh’s Rural Electrification Board and the Strategic Climate Fund of the Asian Development Bank.

The Project is funded by the World Bank and it was designed to increase the productivity, financial, and environmental sustainability of agriculture and the profitability of agribusiness in the project area. These components included: (i) strengthening of Water Consumer Associations (WCA) and providing institutional development to train and support WCAs to rehabilitate, operate and maintain on-farm irrigation and drainage systems; and (ii) services/ support to improve irrigation and drainage technology through the creation of Farmer Field Schools (FFS) for the distribution of simple and accessible water-saving practices through seven demonstration plots, one for each district.

SHELADIA provided project management and technical services to complete this ongoing program. RESP II covered 250,000 ha of irrigated land cultivated by 4,000 larger size farmers operating under the cotton and wheat State quota system; 100,000 small dehkan farmers with plots between 0.1 and 0.4 ha; and 265 rural settlements (mahalla) with 150,000 kitchen gardens and, in some cases, also for their drinking water supply.

The Project funded by ADB, and it was designed to sustain and increase agriculture production and productivity in seven districts of Ferghana, Namangan, and Samarkand Provinces by making their pump irrigation systems fully functional and operate in an efficient manner. The Project consisted of two main Components: (1) Rehabilitation and Upgrading of Irrigation and Drainage Infrastructure and (2) Improved Water Resources Management. The project was working with 1,875 farmers in 34 WCAs covering 173,000 hectares of irrigated agricultural lands in the Ferghana Valley and the Zarafshan River Basin which are the two most productive agricultural areas in Uzbekistan.

Sheladia developed a detailed plan to improve and optimize water management at the irrigation system level based on integrated water resources management (IWRM) principles. Designed capacity-building program for Basin Irrigation System Administration (BISA) in the subprojects. In addition, we prepared guidelines and proposals for improved Operation and Maintenance (O&M) and water management plans for integrated and coordinated operation of inter-farm and on-farm infrastructure, reorganized beneficiary organizations into non-commercial, registered Water Consumer Associations (WCAs) based upon hydrologic boundaries, prepared inventory of assets and liabilities of WCAs.

This Project improved and expanded irrigated agriculture in Mali and increased producers’ incomes to foster economic growth and substantially reduce poverty. The Project’s objective was achieved through a well-designed production-related program that created investment opportunities for the private sector in the irrigation sector.

Sheladia introduced irrigation into new land on an environmentally sound and sustainable basis and supported the development of water user organizations to make better use of water for agriculture, human and livestock consumption. We also designed and implemented the M&E system which allowed the project to focus its resources to improve agricultural and livestock productivity.

This project aimed to promote economic growth by working with partners to increase competitiveness in five agricultural value chains: rice, potatoes, mangoes, shallots, and tomatoes. The ultimate objective was to increase producer incomes, and the project focused on several intermediate results within each value chain. One of these results was the expansion/rehabilitation of irrigated agriculture and the intensification of agricultural production in the project’s target areas. The project also developed new areas suitable for rice cultivation through the rehabilitation and expansion of irrigation infrastructure.

SHELADIA worked closely with communities on the design and implementation of new irrigation schemes, preparation of contract models for the community labor, and recruitment of local NGOs and private contractors for supervision and civil works of the irrigation infrastructure. SHELADIA was also responsible for ensuring environmental guidelines were met.

 The Project goal is to increase agricultural productivity in the Panj-Amu River Basin by improving water access and use at farm, scheme, and river levels. The project supports the government strategy to increase per-capita income and reduce poverty among rural and pastoral communities. It also improves cropping intensities, irrigated areas, and crop yields on a command area of 74,500 hectares (ha). As a result, increased annual farm incomes in the range of $123-$615 per household for over 55,000 households and created approximately 11,000 full-time rural jobs per annum, with an estimated value of $10.4 million.

Sheladia assisted the Project Management Unit in MEW and MAIL in overall project implementation. The key aspects of the work include: (i) To build the capacity of staff in the PMOs and PIOs to undertake their tasks, (ii)To deliver training jointly with the PMOs and PIOs to government agencies involved in project implementation, (iii) To help set up systems and procedures (including relevant management and monitoring templates) for the PMOs and PIOs, and (iv)To provide technical oversight and guidance on technical aspects of the project.

The Project was a five-year cooperative agreement funded by USAID and managed by NCBA-CLUSA in collaboration with Sheladia Associates and other partners. KAWOLOR sustainably increased consumption of nutritious and safe diets and achieved the following Intermediate Results: (a) increased on-farm availability and market supply of diverse, nutritious, and safe foods; (b) increased resilience and income, especially for vulnerable groups; (c) increased adoption of nutrition and care practices; and (d) improved governance of food systems. KAWOLOR’s activities spanned 99 communes and reached 162,000 across 99 communities in 8 regions. KAWOLOR will bolster and link each of the aforementioned Intermediate Results in an integrated nutrition-led agriculture systems approach.

Sheladia played a specialized role in water management that contributes across all project IRs and our team oversaw water infrastructure activities for agriculture, and local capacity building to manage domestic (potable drinking water) and agricultural water solutions. A total of 44,177 individuals in 103 villages gained access to drinking water surpassing the target of 40,000. Communities and clients contributed 62% of the total cost. We also provided monitoring and evaluation support to program leadership.

 The Program aims to promote food security and improve the livelihoods of food insecure families in selected communities and villages of southern Niger. USAID funds the Program whose objective was to increase food production and incomes and ensure livelihood protection and health for food insecure farming households through improved agricultural and livestock production technologies, increased market participation, innovative approaches to strengthening the household asset base and provision of safe drinking water.

SHELADIA worked closely with the CLUSA and ARZIKI team to contribute to overall project objectives and provide specific technical input in irrigation, water supply and sanitation, and M&E through its long-term and short-term consultants to achieve the desired project outcomes and results.